Before the Netherlands match, the biggest topic of conversation is still a Turkish player who is not even allowed to play. A former German international player expresses his solidarity with him.
Former German international Mesut Özil shared a picture of the controversial wolf salute by Turkish international Merih Demiral on Instagram. The picture was seen in an Instagram story by the 35-year-old a few hours before the team’s European Championship quarter-final against the Netherlands. It was accompanied by a cheer for Turkey. Demiral was banned for two games by UEFA for the gesture.
The wolf salute controversy has heated up the mood before the match. “This biased and unfair decision has deeply disappointed our entire nation,” said association president Mehmet Büyükeksi in an association statement.
The influential fan group Ultraslan of the traditional club Galatasaray announced on Instagram that they could not wait to “give an answer to this meanness as thousands of Grey Wolves in Berlin and as millions in the world” on match day.
Erdogan in Berlin at the game
The 26-year-old Demiral formed the hand sign and symbol of the “Grey Wolves” with both hands after his second goal in the 2:1 round of 16 win against Austria. The “Grey Wolves” are the name given to the supporters of the right-wing extremist “Ülkücü movement”, which is monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany.
In Turkey, the ultra-nationalist MHP is their political representative and ally of the Islamic-conservative AKP of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan wants to attend the game against the Netherlands.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
